Community Calendar

The luncheon celebrates and recognized the achievements and servant leadership fo businesswomen in Seward County. Joan Tanderup of Seward Motor Freight will be honored as the 2018 Outstanding Woman in Business.

US Corn Planting Falls Behind Normal Pace Due to Widespread Rain

After debuting last week at a pace equal to the five-year average, U.S. corn planting progress fell behind normal in USDA’s weekly Crop Progress report released Monday afternoon. USDA estimated 6% of the nation’s corn crop was planted as of Sunday, behind last year’s pace of 12% and also behind the five-year average pace of 9%.

The delay in planting was due to frequent and widespread showers across the Corn Belt last week, DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson explained in an Ag Weather Forum blog.

USDA also reported that 19% of U.S. winter wheat was headed as of Sunday, April 16, up from 11% a year ago and also up from the five-year average of 13% headed.

Fifty-four percent of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent and 19 percent was headed. Meanwhile, spring wheat planting was reported at 13% complete as of Sunday, down from last year’s 25% and also below the five-year average of 21% planted.

In other crop reports, sorghum was 21% planted, compared to 16% last year and a 20% five-year average. Cotton planting was 8% complete, compared to 7% last year and a 9% average. Rice was 55% planted, compared to 46% last year and a 37% average. Twenty-five percent of rice was emerged.

Oats were 45% planted as of April 16, compared to 53% last year and a 52% average. Emergence was at 29%, compared to 29% last year and a 35% average.

National Crop Progress Summary

This

Last

Last

5-Year

Week

Week

Year

Avg.

Corn Planted

6

3

12

9

Winter Wheat Headed

19

9

11

13

Spring Wheat Planted

13

5

25

21

Cotton Planted

8

6

7

9

Sorghum Planted

21

18

16

20

Oats Planted

45

33

53

52

Oats Emerged

29

26

29

35

Barley Planted

13

9

31

28

Rice Planted

55

31

46

37

Rice Emerged

25

13

18

17

National Crop Condition Summary

(VP=Very Poor; P=Poor; F=Fair; G=Good; E=Excellent)

This Week

Last Week

Last Year

VP

P

F

G

E

VP

P

F

G

E

VP

P

F

G

E

Winter Wht

3

10

33

46

8

3

10

34

46

7

2

7

34

48

9

NEBRASKA

For the week ending April 16, 2017, temperatures averaged four to six degrees above normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall of an inch or more was limited to portions of the eastern half of the State. Dry soil moisture conditions continued in southwestern Nebraska. The first fields of corn were planted, however, fieldwork in most areas was limited to spring tillage and fertilizer application. There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 18 short, 74 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7 percent very short, 23 short, 68 adequate, and 2 surplus.

In Kansas, temperatures were six to ten degrees above normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Central and eastern counties continued to receive rainfall, while most western counties remained dry. The additional rainfall aided pasture and wheat development, but continued to delay corn planting in many areas. Powdery mildew and stripe rust have been identified in some wheat fields. There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture rated 4 percent very short, 13 short, 70 adequate, and 13 surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 5 percent very short, 20 short, 70 adequate, and 5 surplus.